A sign of the times in Chicago, where a concealed weapon ban was recently overturned. This was at an Einstein Bagel in Streeterville. It's the second one I've seen in a few days.

A magazine I picked up on a trip to Poland in 1984. Illustration by Antoni Chodorowski. According to Google Translate, Szpilki means “pins” or “high heels” or “stilettos.” I'm not sure what definition is correct but I'm sure it's meant symbolically or metaphorically, not literally. European graphic design tends to be much more picture oriented and less literal than American work. 

Similar Logos?

I think the Stumble Upon logo looks like the Lululemon logo with a chuck of hair cut off. I don't think logos that remind me of other logos are effective. When I saw the StumbleUpon logo I immediately thought, Lululemon. Which distracted me from thinking about StumbleUpon. It's not a strong similarity but just enough to distract me.

Slide Show Created in Flash with My Photos with Leo Kottke Soundtrack

Mike Doughty at Space in Evanston, March 22, 2012

My very first video ever taken with a cheap still camera. 

I need to work on my camera technique since I'm much more used to still photography.

Where "Keep Calm and Carry On" Came From

Always wondered how this originated. It is great copywriting, an effective, simple design and great typography.

Can a Font Help a City Make a Comeback?

Chatype: A Typeface for Chattanooga! from D + J on Vimeo.

August 11, 2011, Uptown, Chicago

One of My Favorite Cartoons

And so amazingly simple.

Snowfall Feb. 21, 2011

Today's Google Logo

Groovy!

Winter in Chicago

I've been here 15 years and I've never seen it come this early. Horizontal snowfall, sub-zero wind chill. You know the drill. From the Belmont L stop looking east. Shot this past Sunday, Dec. 12.

Keep the X in X-Mas

For a while now it has seemed to me that Christmas keeps coming earlier and earlier. That is the trimmings, trappings and excessive garnish that is Christmas and not Christmas itself. Christmas still is the 25th of December, though you wouldn't think it's that far away in time. I wanted to keep a close watch to see if this is true. Here's what I've noticed:

• 31 October - Christmasland in Menards in Wisconsin already up and running, selling Christmas trees and other decorations.
• 05 November - First Christmas t.v. commercial observed (I don't watch too much t.v. so this is the first one I've seen).
• 15 November and 16 November - Christmas decorations and lighting going up on Michigan Avenue and the side streets of The Miracle Mile
• Also 15 November - roughly 20 percent of t.v. commerials have holiday themes

Finally, realistic warnings about the dangers of nicotine addiction (otherwise know as cigarette smoking) that will be required to run on cigarette packs. The FDA is seeking public comment on these but I didn't see mentioned how to comment. They will be prominently featured. See examples:

• Cigarettes are addictive (really graphic)
• Smoking can harm your children (what a cutie!)
• Lung disease (that toe tag, like a cigarette, is a really suave accessory)
• Cancer (love the way the bold letter "I" in the second example turns the phrase into "I Cause Cancer")
• Strokes and heart disease (more graphic realism)
• Smoking during pregnancy (a pacifier is to a baby as a cigarette is to an adult but you would think that adults would know better)
• Deadly (Wow! I can't believe Phillip Morris couldn't squash this through their well-paid lobbyists)
• Fatal lung disease in nonsmokers (for those who think 'the world is my smoking lounge and ashtray')
• Quitting reduces risk (so does not starting---love the toilet bowl)

Why does it feel like somebody's watching me?

The sculpture across from the Harold Washington Library in the Loop. The eye is appropriately bloodshot due to the atmospheric conditions downtown and irritation from the wind in the Windy City.